City of Fort Scott Commission Meeting Minutes, May 5, 2026

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Fort Scott City Commission Meeting Minutes

5-5-2026 CityCommissionMinutes

Meeting Date: May 5, 2026

Meeting Type: Regular Meeting

Location: City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas

Broadcast: Streamed live on YouTube

Call to Order: 6:00 PM

Attendance

Mayor: Kathryn Salsbury
Commissioners: Matthew Wells, Tracy Dancer, Tim Van Hoecke, Julie Buchta
City Staff & Guests: Brad Matkin (City Manager), Chief Jason Pickert (FSPD), Rachel Carpenter (Community Relations Director), Lisa Lewis (City Clerk), Lisa Dillon (Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Coordinator), Mary Wyatt (Business Development Director), Jason Dickman (Earles Engineering & Inspections LLC), Stephen Mitchell (IT Director), Garth Herrmann (Gilmore & Bell), Scott Flater (Public Utility Director), Michael Hoyt, and Nick Graham

Opening Proceedings

Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Mayor Salsbury.
Invocation: Delivered by Commissioner Van Hoecke, asking for guidance for the City, citizens, government, and officials.

Approval of Agenda

Motion: Van Hoecke moved to approve the Amended Agenda. Seconded by Dancer.
Vote: Carried 5-0.

Consent Agenda

Motion: Van Hoecke moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Seconded by Dancer.
Vote: Carried 5-0.

Public Comment

No comments were made.

Appearances

Garth Herrmann (Gilmore & Bell) – Resolution No. 19-2026

Topic: Authorizing Offering for Sale of Bond Notes for the Davis Lift Station. Resolution 17-2026 was approved authorizing the sale of temporary notes (Series 2026-1) in the amount of $3 million to finance project and issuance costs.
Timeline: Notes are scheduled to close on June 25, 2026, with a maturity date of July 1, 2026. A long-term bond issue is planned for spring or early summer 2027. The principal amount may be increased if future change orders are approved.
Motion: Wells moved to go out for the General Obligation Temporary Notes Series 2026-1 with the changes that may come based upon what the City Manager communicates back to bond counsel. Seconded by Van Hoecke.
Vote: Carried 5-0.

Stephen Mitchell – IT Update

Topic: Mitchell reported the pool network was revamped using existing equipment inventory. Work is ongoing with the City Manager to develop a comprehensive 1-, 3-, and 5-year technology plan.
Incidents: The commission discussed recent minor ransomware incidents experienced by the local school district; there was no lateral movement, and it was successfully contained.
Next Steps: An executive session will be scheduled during the next May meeting to discuss the technology plan due to proprietary information and identified system vulnerabilities. Commissioners praised the noticeable improvements in IT support and responsiveness.

Rachel Carpenter & Lisa Dillon – Safe Routes to School Plan

Topic: Developed through a KDOT technical assistance grant with participation from community stakeholders. The adopted plan identifies pedestrian safety improvements near schools and enables future grant opportunities without creating a financial obligation for the City.
Motion: Moved to adopt the City of Fort Scott Safe Routes to School Plan. Seconded by Buchta.
Vote: Carried 5-0.

Rachel Carpenter – Transportation Alternative Grant

Topic: Request to apply for a Transportation Alternatives Grant for Phase One of the Buck Run Corridor Transportation Project. The $2 million project includes a four-foot concrete pathway (6th to 12th Street), a new 100-foot bridge, rehabilitation of a historic 1900 bridge, and traffic safety measures near the high school. The City is responsible for a 20% local match ($400,000) to be budgeted in 2027. Award notifications are anticipated in Fall 2026.
Motion: Van Hoecke moved to approve City staff to go out for the grant as requested. Seconded by Dancer.
Vote: Carried 5-0.

Unfinished Business

CDBG Grant & Environmental Review for Memorial Hall

Topic: Mary Wyatt reported the city’s portion of the environmental review process for the Memorial Hall exterior renovation project is complete. The Mayor’s signature is required on one document, with an additional signature expected on May 19, 2026, following a seven-day public comment period.

Scope: Exterior renovations, replacement windows, waterproofing, water-tightening measures, and scotch pointing. Review by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) extended the timeline. Construction bidding can proceed once approved by the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Discussion of Gunn Park Caretaker’s House

Topic: Proposal to use the caretaker house as a short-term rental property. Concerns were raised regarding the city competing with private businesses. Alternatives included daytime event rentals or private entity operations.
Motion: Van Hoecke moved to deny the proposal for use of the caretaker house as a short-term rental. Seconded by Buchta.
Vote: Carried 4-1. (Dancer, Buchta, Van Hoecke, and Salsbury voted Yes; Wells voted No) .

New Business

Resolution No. 18-2026: Expanded Alcohol Sales Hours (FIFA World Cup)

Topic: Consideration to expand alcohol sales hours from 6:00 AM to 5:00 AM on game days during the 2026 FIFA World Cup (June 11 – July 19, 2026).
Motion: Van Hoecke moved to deny the request and maintain current alcohol sales hours. Seconded by Buchta.
Vote: Carried 4-1. (Buchta, Van Hoecke, Salsbury, and Wells voted Yes; Dancer voted No) .

Bids for 2026-28 Hay Rights (Airport)

Motion: Buchta moved to approve the submitted bid from G & M Cattle for $6,500 per year. Seconded by Dancer.
Vote: Carried 5-0.

Agenda Amendment for Executive Session

Motion: Wells moved to amend the agenda to call an Executive Session. Seconded by Buchta.
Vote: Carried 5-0.

Executive Session

Motion: Wells moved to recess into Executive Session to discuss the acquisition of real property pursuant to the exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(6), with the 5 Commissioners and the City Manager present, resuming at 7:21 PM. Seconded by Van Hoecke.
Vote: Carried 5-0.
Motion to Return: Van Hoecke moved to come out of Executive Session. Seconded by Buchta.
Vote: Carried 4-0. (Buchta, Van Hoecke, Salsbury, and Dancer voted Yes; Wells was not present for the vote) .
Note: Commissioner Wells returned to the meeting at 7:22 PM.

Action Items / Continued Business

Change Order No. 1 – Davis Lift Station ($126,323.58)

Topic: Jason Dickman presented Change Order #1 for an extraneous flow pump and force main anchoring system due to high groundwater levels (3.5 to 4.5 feet below grade) creating buoyancy concerns for the 18-inch overflow pipe.
Discussion: Public Utility Director Scott Flater recommended tabling the issue, noting recent rainfall likely caused temporarily elevated groundwater. Sections of the pipe are already buried, and the contractor is requesting reimbursement for excavation work. Commissioners requested that future major change order discussions include the on-site engineering supervisor and the operations superintendent.
Motion: Van Hoecke moved to table the Change Order. Seconded by Buchta.
Vote: Carried 5-0.
Direction: Dickman was directed to confirm the contractor could proceed elsewhere, investigate alternative solutions, and report back. Mayor Salsbury clarified that the City had been placed on legal notice regarding potential liability if the pipe were to float, noting the City is prohibited from indemnifying third parties.

Reports and Comments

City Engineer

Davis Lift Station update.
E. National Project update – railroad permits received for National Ave. and Wall St.
Wall Street – CCLIP update – Phase 4 submitted.

City Manager

No comment.

Commissioner Van Hoecke

Golf Cart Permit reminder.
Striping on National Avenue.
Thank you to City Staff for a successful Luau event.

Commissioner Buchta

Striping on National Avenue.
Additional comments regarding the Gunn Park Caretaker’s House.
Sales tax / shop local advocacy.

Commissioner Dancer

Additional comments regarding the Gunn Park Caretaker’s House.
Concerns about the current animal shelter.

Commissioner Wells

Additional comments regarding the Gunn Park Caretaker’s House.
Request to form a coalition for homelessness.
Acknowledgement of Good Ol Days vendors and sponsors.

Commissioner Salsbury

4-way stop at 12th and Main.
Additional comments on the work session regarding homelessness.
Acknowledgement of the City Engineer’s comments regarding the City being “put on notice”.

Adjournment

Motion: Van Hoecke moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 PM. Seconded by Dancer.
Vote: Carried and adjourned at 8:04 PM.

Submitted by: Lisa A. Lewis, City Clerk